Police Arrest Six Protesters During JKA Demonstration at Aceh Governor's Office

Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - Banda Aceh Police arrested six students from the Aceh People’s Alliance (ARA) during a demonstration rejecting the implementation of Aceh Governor’s Regulation No. 2 of 2026 on Aceh Health Insurance (JKA) at the Aceh Governor’s office. “Six individuals from the protesting crowd were briefly detained for lowering the Red and White flag and provoking others,” said Banda Aceh Police Chief, Commissioner Andi Kirana, in Banda Aceh on Monday. For context, students from various universities in Aceh, united under ARA, staged the protest in front of the Governor’s office. They opposed the enforcement of the JKA regulation and demanded its revocation. The police chief stated that during the demonstration, some protesters attempted to lower the national flag, but security personnel prevented them from desecrating the state symbol. The six arrested protesters are RMZ (34), MRA (20), ASN (21), MAU (21), DAI (22), and TP (22). “During the audience session, some protesters lowered the Red and White flag and provoked the crowd, resulting in an initial dispersal by the security team, followed by further dispersal and the deployment of the Public Order and Security Unit from the Aceh Provincial Police Mobile Brigade,” he explained. Andi noted that of the six detained, four have been returned to the protest coordinators, while the remaining two are receiving medical care. “The other two were taken to Bhayangkara Hospital of the Aceh Provincial Police because they sustained impacts from personnel, and the doctor diagnosed them with minor head injuries,” he said. He emphasised that officers had previously urged the protesters to conduct the demonstration peacefully. “Let us maintain a conducive atmosphere in Banda Aceh City,” concluded the Banda Aceh Police Chief.